Page:Notes and Queries - Series 9 - Volume 6.djvu/349

 vi. OCT. 13,1900.] NOTES AND QUERIES. 287 there was such a surprise in the pitched battle cited in ' H.E.D.' to illustrate its definition, which is 'The Taming of the Shrew,' I. ii. 206. The phrase "Here pitch our battle ('3 Hen. VI.,' V. iv. 6G) seems to show that the action of one of the hostile forces could cause a battle which would be called pitched. "Pitch our battle" I suppose to signify " prepare our force for action." But " pitch " is not a general word. It specifies a particular mode of making ready which is described in ' 1 Hen. VI.,' I. ii. 118 :— No leisure had he to enrank his men: He wanted pikes to set before his archers ; Instead whereof sharp stakes plucked out of hedges They pitched in the ground confusedly. To keep the horsemen off from breaking in. When Dr. Murray shall reach the word pitch, he may conclude that the phrase " pitched battle " was coined to designate one prepared for in the fashion above mentioned, by planting pikes or stakes in the earth, the ancient moae of defence against a charge of cavalry before bayonets had been invented. JAMES D. BUTLER. Madison, Wis., U.S. " SOLECIZE." (See ante, p. 208.)— "Absurd fellowes solecising continually in opinion, speech, action, whole life." — William Sclater, D.D., 'Expos. II. Thoss.'(1626), p. 225, ed. 1629. "Men soloccising inopinion.speeches,actions, and whole life."—Thomas Hill, D.D., ' The Trade of Truth'(1642), p. 35. There seems to be something of doctoral pilfering here. F. H. Marlesiord. SADI AND GOETHE.—In the pleasant, naive ' Details in my Daily Life' of Abdur Rahman, Amir of Afghanistan, contributed to the Monthly Review, the following sentiment of the great Persian poet appears (p. 50) :— To treat those kindly who disturb the peace Is being an enemy to those who love peace. Compare with this the lines in the complaint of the Chancellor in ' Faust,' book ii. sc. ii. :— Gin Richtcr, der nicht strafen kann, Gesellt sich endlich zum Verbrecher. If, as we would fain believe, the confessions of the Oriental potentate express his sincere aspirations, he has realized the truth of these earlier lines in the same speech :— Gerechtigkeit! Was alle Menschen lieben, Was alle fordern, wunschen, schwer entbehren, Ivs liegt an ihm [dem Kaiser] dem Volk es zu gewahren. FRANCIS P. MARCHANT. Brixton Hill. Qutritt, WE must request correspondents desiring infor- mation on family matters of only private interest to affix their names and addresses to their queries, in order that the answers may be addressed to them direct. KING AND PAINTER.—Who was the monarch who is said to have stooped to pick up the brush which a painter had let fall, and who was the painter in question ? S. THE REV. CHARLES MASON, Woodwardian Professor at Cambridge and F.R.S., circa 1746. —Information as to parentage, place of birth, residence, and place and date of decease of this clergyman would much oblige. W. Q. NORRIS. Coalbrookdale. THE REGENTS OF SCOTLAND.—I have sought in various books of reference an accurate and full list of the regents of Scotland in vain, and should be glad if any reader of ' N. & Q. would kindly point out any omissions, for the annexed roll seems incomplete. , Randolph, Earl of Moray, 1329. Donald, Earl of Mar, 1332. Sir Andrew Moray of Bothwell. Sir Archibald Douglas, 1341. The Steward of Scotland. 1346 (? Robert II.). The Earl of Carrick, 1384 (? Robert III.). The Earl of Fife, 1388 (Albany). David, Duke of Rothesay, 1398. Robert, Duke of Albany, 1406. Murdoch, Duke of Albany, 1423. Archibald, Earl of Douglas, 1438. John, Duke of Albany, 1515. Margaret Tudor. James, Earl of Arran, Duke of Chatelherault, 1542. Marie of Lorraine, 1555. James, Earl of Moray, 1567. Mathew, Earl of Lennox, 1570. John, Earl of Mar, 1571. James, Earl of Morton, 1572. SCOTIA. GEORGE ELIOT.—Where can I find an authentic statement of an anecdote of the great novelist which I heard years ago, to the following effect? A lady asked George Eliot what her duty was in certain difficult circumstances, and received a clear reply. " But," she obiected, " if I did that I should die !" " Surely that has nothing to do with your doing your duty," answered the great moralist. Q. V. INDIA OFFICE RECORDS.—In 1887 was pub- .ished a Blue-book in 8vo. entitled " Report on Records of the India Office, vol. i. part i.," edited by Mr. Danvers of the India Office. 3n inquiry at the Office I am told that " it ias been decided not to publish part ii. or